Liverpool “available in the market” to signal £50m “beast”

Virgil van Dijk stated that he needs Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool after he returns from the African Cup of Nations, however what in regards to the Dutchman’s personal future?

Months of hypothesis have been led to April when Salah after which the skipper penned contract extensions. Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t, however the world-class veterans stay on the membership till the top of the 2026/27 season.

Of the 2, Van Dijk feels the extra prone to stay on Merseyside during his £350k-per-week deal. Salah’s future is clouded over, a haze descending on the membership’s talisman after his post-match vitriol towards Pink powers that be, saved on the bench by Arne Slot as Liverpool collapsed and drew.

However Van Dijk is 34 years previous, and he has not been his traditional imperious self this season. It might be a tricky process to call one in every of Europe’s elite centre-halves as possible thriving on this dysfunctional Liverpool system this season, however there are a couple of who may need made a world of distinction, had they been landed in the course of the summer season.

Marc Guehi is a living proof.

The most recent on Liverpool’s curiosity in Guehi

Guehi got here inside a whisker of becoming a member of Liverpool in the course of the summer season. Pursued all via the low season, Liverpool left it too late, with a deal collapsing on the eleventh hour after the Eagles didn’t land a alternative.

It is a participant who cannot solely safe a beginning function in Slot’s Liverpool aspect however change Van Dijk too.

The England worldwide has established himself as one of many Premier League’s greatest centre-backs over the previous yr, and given that he’s out of contract on the finish of the marketing campaign, FSG are eyeing a shrewd free switch come the summer season.

However Liverpool’s defensive issues are dire. Ibrahima Konate has been woeful this season, Guehi has been immense in contrast. Liverpool maybe can not await the top of the time period to redress their tattered backline.

Nonetheless, Manchester Metropolis are ramping up their very own curiosity within the 25-year-old, and Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid are suitors too.

It might be negligible for sporting director Richard Hughes to enterprise into the winter market with out an alternate thoughts, and fortunately, he has such a participant in his sights.

Liverpool “available in the market” for Guehi various

In accordance with switch insider Dean Jones, Liverpool are “available in the market” for Borussia Dortmund star Nico Schlotterbeck as a fallback to Guehi, ought to that one not work out.

The 26-year-old is without doubt one of the greatest centre-backs within the Bundesliga, and whereas he’s about to enter the ultimate 18 months of his contract on the Sign Iduna Park, Dortmund would search £50m to half with him on the marketing campaign’s midpoint.

Schlotterbeck can be coveted by Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern, so Liverpool might not wish to dangle about if they’re certainly severe about bringing him over to Anfield.

Why Schlotterbeck could be excellent for Liverpool

Schlotterbeck has been on Liverpool’s radar for some time, and given Van Dijk’s age and Konate’s type, it may be cash effectively spent, bringing him over to the Premier League in January.

Described as an “absolute beast” of a defender by expertise scout Jacek Kulig whereas enjoying for RB Leipzig, Schlotterbeck is tall and powerful and purposeful on the ball. In reality, as per FBref, he ranks among the many prime 3% of centre-backs throughout Europe over the previous yr for passes tried, the highest 1% for progressive passes, the highest 5% for assists and shot-creating actions, and the highest 9% for profitable take-ons per 90.

It is a fashionable defender whose expertise align with these which Slot must make his group tick. Liverpool have had issues within the deep build-up this season, and they should deal with this to assist create stability and fluidity throughout all the park.

We have already seen how favourably Guehi compares to Van Dijk, now have a look at how Schlotterbeck has carried out within the Bundesliga, compared to the Palace skipper’s Premier League efficiency.

German worldwide Schlotterbeck is much more cellular and combative and energetic in defensive phases, all of the whereas sustaining a crispness in possession that doesn’t detract from retention.

Maybe most importantly, he hasn’t made a single mistake within the Bundesliga this season. Given the severity of Liverpool’s defensive errors all through the marketing campaign, such a serene ball-playing presence might go down a deal with for a defence in disrepair.

Would FSG wish to pay a sum of £50m this winter? Hardly possible. Nonetheless, determined occasions name for determined measures, and Liverpool have to signal a centre-back for the second half of the season.

To choose towards doing so would doubtlessly have enormous ramifications referring to Champions League qualification and difficult for silverware in Europe’s elite membership competitors and the FA Cup.

This new tactical paradigm within the Premier League has caught Liverpool unawares. Slot’s aspect have been vulnerable to set-pieces and the directness of play that wasn’t so commonplace solely a yr or two in the past. Equally, they’re struggling to mete out their very own attacking justice from corners and free-kicks.

The 6 foot 3 Schlotterbeck would show instrumental in serving to form this subsequent model of Slot’s group. Guehi would even be a terrific choose, however it is a defender on the prime of his recreation, and who’s to say he will not outshine the Three Lions star within the Premier League subsequent season?

Associated

Not Semenyo: Liverpool can revive Isak by signing “one in every of Europe’s greatest LWs”

Liverpool are able to be energetic within the January switch market.